A CORPORAL whose car ploughed into four fellow soldiers outside their base was blinded by low winter sun, a court was told today.

Kristofer Smith, who serves with The Black Watch, hit his colleagues as they were marching near the Fort George base, close to Inverness.

The 33-year-old driver stopped to help his comrades, who suffered serious injuries, and shouted: "What have I done? I didn't see them." Smith and others from the base gave first aid to the men before they were taken to hospital.

Related articles

Smith admitted driving carelessly - reduced from an initial charge of dangerous driving - at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday. The court was told that Smith, of Inverness, was driving his Volkswagen hatchback when the incident occurred on January 19 last year.

Privates Dean Tudor and Craig Smith and sergeants Alan Bowe and Alan Murray were among 30 soldiers marching in three columns on the Old Military Road, which links the barracks with the village of Ardersier.

GETTY

Smith was allegedly blinded by the sun temporarily

The casualties were on the outside rank of the group and a car had passed them without incident just moments before. Fiscal depute Ross Carvel told the court: "The road surface was wet and there was a low winter sun.

He failed to observe the four soldiers and collided with them

Fiscal depute Ross Carvel

"Smith had two passengers in his car and the group of soldiers had two 'back markers' wearing fluorescent panels on their backpacks warning the rest of approaching vehicles from the rear.

"Smith observed the back markers who alerted the marching soldiers and he pulled out to pass the group. But he failed to observe the four soldiers and collided with them."

Sgt Bowe suffered the most serious injuries - a ruptured spleen and kidney; a broken right leg; three broken ribs and severe concussion - and had to be airlifted to hospital.

GETTY

All the sodiers have fully recovered form their injuries

Sgt Murray, who was left permanently scarred after his head struck the windscreen and also sustained fractured ribs, was taken to hospital by ambulance with the two other men, who also suffered serious injuries. Mr Carvel said: "All the soldiers have fully recovered from their injuries and have returned to work."

Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said his client had been left "distraught" by the incident and said he had apologised to his fellow soldiers. Sheriff David Sutherland fined Smith £600 and endorsed his licence with five penalty points.

He said: "It's clear this was made worse for you because it involved your colleagues.

"I take into account the wet road and low sun but we must always drive for the conditions that pertain."